A top women’s league official told the Zimbabwe Independent that Shuvai Mahofa won that election, not Olivia Muchena.
“Ask the department of security at Zanu PF where 400 votes given to Muchena came from? From our investigations, Muchena only had about 800 votes and Mahofa 1 064 votes. They stole that election from Mahofa. A lot of our members are very angry,” the source said.
“The matter has been brought before the department of security and the President (Robert Mugabe) is aware of it. It is now up to the top leadership to decide what to do. Hopefully, the result will be reversed.”
However, Zanu PF secretary for security Nicholas Goche dismissed the reports saying Muchena won by more than 200 votes.
“The vote counting was done in front of everyone, with the assistance of the police. Nobody protested –– if there was a problem, the issue should have been raised there and then. I have not seen any report about that –– I am not aware of such allegations,” he said.
The two positions were tightly contested with both Mahofa and Muchena wanting the position of the secretary for commissariat.
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A secret ballot had to be ordered after the election for that position degenerated into fistfights.
Muchena was declared winner with 1 274 votes for the powerful post of commissar and Mahofa had to settle for the secretary for security post.
Police had to be called inside the conference venue at the City Sports Centre to restrain factions who were quarrelling over the posts.
Several women allegedly aligned to Women’s League boos Oppah Muchinguri were assaulted with folded chairs by security details and delegates from the camp led by Vice President Joice Mujuru. The group of 40 women from Manicaland had allegedly tried to force their way into the conference venue. Two of them were seriously injured and rushed to hospital.
Another Women’s League executive member said the problems were caused by men, who wanted to influence the outcome of the elections.
Mugabe in his closing remarks at the conference also accused men in the politburo and central committee of causing the violence.
Faith Zaba
